| Clyburn Floor Remarks on Water Resources Development Act
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
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Mister Speaker, I rise in strong support of the WRDA bill. The benefits that this bill provides are not only long overdue, but very much needed by communities all across our great nation.
The importance of this bill are highlighted throughout my District and this country.
Part of my District has been labeled by some as the corridor of shame, communities bisected by interstate I-95. This region of South Carolina has some of the more serious health problems to be found anywhere in this country.
I have consulted the experts trying to ascertain why these health disparities exist in my District and they have said that the problem originates in the water that my constituents are drinking.
In fact they tell me that at the turn of the last century life expectancy in the country was less than 50 years and at the turn of this century it was over 70 years. They tell me that their research proves that 90% of this contribution to this extension of life expectancy is the water we drink.
And beyond just being a health issue this is also a safety and natural disaster issue. This bill authorizes funds for our nation’s coastal communities that are susceptible to hurricanes and flooding.
This legislation also re-affirms this Congress’ commitment to helping our brothers and sisters who had their lives shattered by Hurricane Katrina. This bill authorizes close to $2 billion for coastal restoration initiatives along the Gulf Coast.
So, I encourage my colleagues to vote to override this veto, because in doing so, you are safeguarding the health and physical well-being of millions of Americans.
Thank you and I yield back the balance of my time.
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